After failing to add a third superstar to their roster and losing a five-time All-Star and proven champion in Klay Thompson, the Golden State Warriors ’ chances of remaining competitive in the Western Conference and vying for a title seem to be significantly impacted. However, according to NBA Insider - Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Dubs not only feel confident in improving their overall roster by making the low-profiled additions this summer but they are also expected to be amongst the top four teams in the WC in the 2024-25 season.
"The Warriors believe they improved this summer.... basing that partially on internal number models that gave a positive-value thumbs-up to the additions of Melton, Anderson, and Hield," per Slater. "A few analytics-driven employees from around the league agree. One rival’s metric model had Golden State fourth in the conference."
Have the Dubs made the right moves?
While it may initially seem that the departure of household names like Klay and Chris Paul may hamper the Warriors’ team dynamics, a closer examination would showcase a different perspective. In essence, Steve Kerr’s team has replaced two aging stars with younger players whose playing style is exactly what they need to fill the gaps in their on-court prowess.
Buddy Hield, for instance, has shot 40.5% from the 3-point line over his previous two seasons while adapting to different teams and teammates. The Warriors can envision him seamlessly integrating as a reliable 3-point specialist in their second unit. Similarly, the addition of Kyle Anderson may alleviate some of Draymond Green’s defensive responsibilities, given the 6’9” forward’s underappreciated two-way impact.
Furthermore, considering the promising performances of players like Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson Davis in the 2023-24 season, the presence of these seasoned veterans could prove instrumental in handing them a more refined on-court role.
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Do the Warriors need another star?
Given that the 2022 NBA Champions have been unable to acquire players like Lauri Markkanen, it is evident that they may need to strengthen their supporting cast to make significant progress in the 2024-25 season. Moreover, considering that the Warriors have one of the least cap spaces to fiddle with, their ideal strategy could be to enhance their offensive capabilities by adding players such as Malik Beasley or Lonnie Walker IV into a role similar to that of Harrison Barnes, in the past.
It is safe to say that while most analysts might argue that the Warriors lack sufficient star power to chase another ring, they clearly do not require it if they can create a more cohesive unit around Stephen Curry.
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